gamer toys

Prettiest figma yet but it'll cost youGood Smile Company and Max Factory have officially opened pre-orders for figma Gwendolyn from Odin Sphere! If the Parfom version didn't tickle your fancy, this figma just might. Going by the promo shots, Gwendolyn is in the r...

I thought I'd try something a little different and combine the rhythm game figures into their own gallery so they don't bloat out the other video game kit galleries. So here, you will find the idolm@ster and Vocaloid kits.
A ...

Well, a lot of people took it unto themselves to make sure the "year of fate" definitely came to pass. And with Fate/Grand Order, there no shortage of characters to choose as a subject!
While I think Granblue Fantasy still ed...

Isn't she beautiful? I have no qualms with professing my affections for my favourite characters. Sitting on the throne at the top is Sheryl Nome but coming up behind her is KOS-MOS and this bust of the android is just stunnin...

Figures from Good Smile Company and moreThere were some intriguing Nendoroid and figma announcements at Wonder Festival but the scale figure previews weren't as interesting. Under the Wonderful Hobby Life For You banner, Good Smile Company and associated groups sho...

Just look at the banner! Just look at it!! Bathe in the awesomeness that is the final scene between X and zero in Megaman X!
Done enough? Then check out the figure of Yuzuruha who, sadly was a bit too NSFW to get onto the banner. Still a very sexy figure though! Oh yeah, there's also an Ann figure from persona 5. Now, Back to Yuzuruha!!
[via moeyo]

Since their resurrection and rebranding from the Yamato name, Flare has been keeping pretty low key on their releases, slowly building up their catalogue with some interesting figures and that trend is set to continue.
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Gaming licenses and a few classicsBy my estimates there were about 17 million Nendoroids announced/shown at WonFes. The figma announcements were not as numerous but there were still some juicy ones.
Just as with Nendoroids, the figma lineup has diversified ou...

Kotobukiya were the first company to have a proper focus on the western markets and took steps to license western titles for their figures and so they have an interesting mix of figures from anime and also western movies and ...

At the last Wonder Festival, Aquamarine teased us with placeholders and a prototype of Jack-O and kuradoberi Jam from Guilty Gear Xrd Revelator and now, we get to see them in all their glory!
I have to admit that I'm a little...

Start saving nowI think any responsible financial planner would take Wonder Festival into account (well, provided they collect figures). I mean, look at all this stuff! This is real stuff that is coming!
I'm not the biggest Nendoroid collect...

Upcoming figures from Alter, MegaHouseIt's late fall so you know what that means: MegaHobby Expo time! I'm always hyped to see what kind of new stuff is coming soon (or in Alter's case, much later). Let this be a reminder for all of you to start saving up!
Here's...

Say Alola to the Alola regionThe long-anticipated release of Pokemon Sun & Moon is finally upon us! As Pokemon trainers get ready to visit the Alola region, some fans may want a less-digital version of some of the new Pokemon for their shelves. Thank...

Oct 17 //
Tianxiao MaFigure Name: Nendoroid Shoukaku & ZuikakuFigure Maker: Good Smile CompanyRetail Price: ¥5,556 (each)Available at: Amiami | Big Bad Toy Store | Hobby Search | HobbyLink Japan
As you can see on the boxes, these are Nendoroids 621 and 622. That's an insane amount of Nendos! I wonder if anyone has collected all of them, because that would be a hell of a feat.
The first thing that struck me about these Nendos was the sheer number of accessories included in the box. Both Shoukaku and Zuikaku come in the standard Nendoroid clamshell, but there's an entire second tray dedicated to optional parts. On the one hand, it allows for a wide variety of poses and scenes. But on the other hand it's quite finnicky and time consuming to play with all the small parts. Just setting up their default look required a few references to the instruction sheet.
When I received the box from Amiami, I also got an item in a black plastic bag. For a moment I wondered if they had shipped an adult item by accident. Actually it was a pair of risers for their bases along with an extra part that allows them to hold hands. They're sister ships after all, so yuri subtext is obligatory!
In all seriousness they are adorable together. Both figures come with small fighter planes, accessories to show their Kai 2 upgraded forms, and extra bodies to show the half-damage versions. In the official art the damaged outfits are pretty racy. In Nendoroid form they just look kind of silly.
In the game, each girl can be upgraded to a Kai 2 version with heavier armaments and a different design. These Nendoroids include alternate parts for this: leg and foot armor, a second flight deck, a larger quiver in the back, and an alternate ribbon for Shoukaku.
The list of accessories is extensive so I won't go on about them. I believe I used every single part in my photos, so check out the gallery to see everything!
If you've played with Nendoroids before, there's nothing in this package that will throw you for a loop. The main thing to keep in mind is that despite their simple designs, you need some patience to get the most out of your poses. It's especially true with these two due to the large amount of parts. Sometimes you just need to keep tweaking each of the pieces, little by little, until you get the right pose. I recommend using the promo shots as a guide, as these pieces tend to fit best when positioned according to the promos.
Zuikaku has the most flexibility because her hair consists of twin tails. Shoukaku's long hair and side fringes restrict her poses mostly to ones looking straight ahead. You can work around these limitations by adjusting her quiver and stand, but she's still not as flexible as Zuikaku.
If I had to name a downside to these Nendos, it would be the expressions. They each have three expressions, but none that stand out. Shoukaku has the standard smiling expression, the half-damage one, and a yelling face. Zuikaku has a smile, half-damage, and a tsundere look. Part of the fun of getting new Nendoroids is mixing and matching the face plates, but these two don't bring anything new with their expressions. I like Zuikaku's tsundere face, though.
For fans of KanColle or folks who just like cool military hardware with their Nendoroids, Shoukaku and Zuikaku are a great package. They're even better if you have Akagi and Kaga, because then you can act out their rivalry. These Nendos show Good Smile Company's increasing escalation of their Nendoroid game. It's still crazy to me that they're past 600 now, and each new one seems to be jam packed with more and more goodies.

The pride of the 5th Carrier Division!Nendoroids are hugely popular nowadays (even one of my non-collector friends has some) but it's surprising how few Nendoroid reviews we have. I don't buy a ton of them myself, but a few Kantai Collection ones have come around...

Lots of toys for gamers!Good Smile Company's Mamitan has been hard at work revealing their upcoming figures at NYCC. There are lots of Nendoroids and figmas but I wasn't expecting this many video game figures.
The full armor Megaman X Nendoroid has ...

You can count on the Play Arts Kai brand to bring some unique (if not overly busy) interpretations of some of your favorite comic book characters. I found a couple such figures at the Square Enix booth at SDCC. They were part...

Man, there really are a lot of Fate/Grand Order and Gran Blue Fantasy kits, and I'm sure the numbers will only rise! but for me, the two most standout figures would be the one of the Fei Yen knight from Virtual On and her lar...

KanColle still continues its iron grip on the dealer section of Wonder Festival but at least its dominance isn't quite on the level as previous events, where it was actually painful to sift through.
Kashima is also a popular ...

Next up, we have the first batch of video game garage kits and the first thing one will probably notice is the number of Fate/Grand Order and Gran Blue Fantasy kits.
Rather unsurprisingly, the most popular games get the large...

When I asked the 3A rep what was new for this year, he basically introduced me to every single thing on display. You can see that their artistic vision is still intact, but they've tackled more and more licensed properties ov...

I wasn't expecting to see many Japanese manufacturers at SDCC due to WonFes, but Gecco was able to attend the show. They had flown under my radar until last year when they announced the Venom Snake and Quiet statues for Metal...

Alter is one of the bigger names when it comes to figures but their output has slowed in recent years. Having said that, I feel that they have upped their game again after a number of rather bland entries...
But for this year...

The main problem with having SDCC and Wonder Festival on the same week is that, particularly for the more international companies, like GoodSmile Company and Kotobukiya, there are lots of overlaps between the 2 events so a lo...

Action, action, and more action!NECA's display featured the expected slew of movie collectibles as well as some more surprising items (like a Superman vs Muhammad Ali 2-pack!).
Highlights included the amazing-looking 1/4-scale Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles...

[Update: Added photos of the Fine Art Statue Vision]
I always love seeing what Kotobukiya brings to SDCC. This year we had a few major announcements, so let's kick off with the biggest: they'll be starting a line called "Ikem...

Good Smile Company doesn't usually do Comic Con as WonFes is usually the same weekend. However it seems like they're starting to stake out some territory at SDCC. Their booth was pretty small and tucked away - not what you'd ...

Just call them KidHedgehog?Kidrobot seeks to expand its array of gaming collectibles with figures based on SEGA's beloved Sonic the Hedgehog games. Set to release this Winter, Kidrobot's offerings will include a blind-boxed figure line, a blind-boxed k...

Saber and Yuuki are going to burn fansIf you saw Scaredroodle's report on up coming Anime Expo exclusives from Good Smile Company then you already got a preview of some of the exclusives headed to Wonder Festival 2016 Winter. Strangely enough, Nendoroid 447-b&nbs...

He's a very avid explorerNathan Drake, the star of Sony's Uncharted games, has been on a bit of a run lately. Not only is he receiving a 7-inch action figure (NECA) and a stylized Pop! figure, but he also has a Nendoroid on the way.
Mamitan recently ...

The ever-popular Samus Aran has already gotten the figma treatment, but this time around she'll be shedding that bulky suit. This is the Metroid: Other M version of Samus. I haven't played the game but it seems like we're tra...

Yeah, we know that Resident Evil 6 wasn't exactly a great game but it is the last (thus far) main game in the series so if a company is going to celebrate the series, this is probably going to be the one to go to, especially ...

Dark Stalkers' Morrigan Aensland has seen a few releases over the years, but I don't remember many wardrobe changes. I think since her main appeal is her sexiness, and her outfit already emphasizes that, there never was a nee...

Skyward Sword's Link is the latest entryGood Smile Company's Wonderful Hobby Selection line is getting a new addition from Max Factory! This time it'll be The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword's Link making the transition from artwork to PVC figure.
Compared to some o...

If you do object, you'd be overruledMamitan recently showed off some photos of Max Factory's upcoming figma based on Phoenix Wright, the eponymous star of the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney video games(who also appears in at least one Ace Attorney spinoff).
The figma will include an array of expressions to help recreate some of his iconic (and dramatic) poses from the games.
Be sure to check out the full image in the gallery.

First 4 Figures have released some pretty amazing figures of Samus Aran from Metroid over the past 8 years. Their first being the Varia Suit release back in 2008. and now, they have decided to revisit the iconic powered suit ...

May 05 //
Tianxiao MaFigure Name: Velvet with CorneliusFigure Maker: AlterRetail Price: ¥13,800Available at: Big Bad Toy Store
I'm going to be totally honest: I really haven't been interested in Alter's releases as of late. They used to be the gold standard of the anime figure world, but have in recent years been releasing rather boring designs. Every once in a while, though, they reach for the stars. The result is a figure that ends up selling out everywhere.
Velvet (and Cornelius) is the third of Alter's Odin Sphere releases. The first was Gwendolyn which came out way back in 2008. Gwendolyn came during a time when figures really were limited collectibles, and as such became a grail figure for many. Luckily she's gotten two re-releases (the latest happening just last month). Next came Mercedes in 2010, which has also gotten a recent re-release. So now, hopefully, die-hard Odin Sphere fans can have the full set of gals.
Trust me when I say, you do not want to miss out on Velvet. I collect figures to keep as mementos of stories and characters that I love (or sometimes because their butts are shiny). This one is such a memento, but it's also an extraordinary piece of craftsmanship. Its design, sculpt, detailing, and paint job are all a tier above what you'd see in an average anime figure.
What's crazy is that this probably isn't even the best figure Alter has ever made. But it takes you to the old days, when you knew that if you got an Alter figure you'd be getting the best. That really says a lot about its construction.
It's also surprisingly user-friendly. For a figure with two bodies in leaping poses and a swinging chain, the assembly process was way easier than expected. Velvet and Cornelius attach via metal pegs to the base. Their weapons are pretty simple to attach, with Velvet's Psypher not even needing to hook or peg into anything.
In the game, Velvet has a number of mid to long range attacks owing to her weapon being attached to chains. Cornelius is a more straightforward sword fighter who uses his small size and agility. Their contrasting styles are reflected in this figure, with Velvet's chains forming sweeping arcs while Cornelius is in mid-thrust with his sword.
I thought Cornelius would me more of a throw-in - maybe just a cool detail on a really elaborate base. He kind of is, but you wouldn't be wrong to call him a full-fledged figure either. You're basically getting two figures for the price of, like, one and a half. You can see the same craftsmanship and attention to detail on Cornelius as you do on Velvet. His armor looks weathered. The leather parts look like leather. His Psypher is translucent just like Velvet's. Despite Velvet being the main attraction, Alter spared no effort in properly painting and detailing Cornelius.
Alter has done a remarkable service for Odin Sphere fans. Yes, other manufacturers have tackled the property from time to time. But none of them ever got as ambitious or straight-up beautiful as Alter's figures. There's just something about the way they handle the translation from 2D that's uniquely pretty. It even extends to figures from other Vanillaware titles.
Velvet, like her sister figures, is a centerpiece. You can put her on a shelf and even folks who are leery of anime figures will pause and admire her. It just makes me so happy that Alter didn't go with a "standard" pose. It shows that they aren't making figures just to cash in on an upcoming game. They went all out, and the result is a magnificent love letter to the fans.

A homeless princess and a Tiny ToonIf you're a fan of side scrolling beat-em-ups, you owe it to yourself to try out Odin Sphere. While I enjoyed the gameplay, the thing that elevates Odin Sphere far past the typical rabble of its genre is its artistry. It's kn...

May 04 //
Tianxiao MaFigure Name: Parfom LabrysFigure Maker: Phat CompanyRetail Price: ¥5,500Available at: Play-Asia | Right Stuf | Hobby Search | HobbyLink Japan
Labrys is the third in Phat Company's Parfom series, following Aigis and Yuudachi. I was interested in this line because it seemed to combine the cuteness of Nendoroids with the poseability of figmas. But for reasons I can't remember right now, I didn't buy Aigis or Yuudachi. So that makes Labrys my first Parfom, and I was interested to see how good these figures are.
You can see the full box shot in the gallery (it's a nice, clean design) but this weird little detail caught my eye. This is probably the first figure I've gotten with a message on the box flap.
Unpacking the figure took some effort because it comes with a lot of accessories. Labrys is pretty large - measuring to the top of her ponytail she can reach up to 150mm. I don't have the figma Labrys to compare, but my figma Yu Narukami is about the same height. However due to the Parfom's proportions, it ends up being a bulkier figure overall.
With these kinds of figures you have a common set of expectations in terms of how to swap parts and such. Labrys comes with four face plates and an alternate hair fringe which includes her visor. It works just like with any figma: pull off the hair fringe and you'll be able to remove her face plates. The fit of the faces felt inconsistent. Her default face was a bit loose while some others were very tight.
Speaking of her default face, it wound up surprising me in a good way. Too often with anime figures, you're locked into a boring, neutral expression for the face. Part of the appeal of Nendoroid and figma is that they offer alternative expressions that might capture the spirit of the character better. Initially, I thought Labrys would just have some boring smiling expression as her default. However, the expression on this default face can look like it changes depending on the angle you view it from.
In this shot, Labrys' expression is menacing and her mouth is frowning. But look at the shots above: they're all using the same face! The expression goes from neutral to inquisitive to threatening depending on the angle. This is a rare quality in figures, and I certainly didn't expect to find it here. I love faces with some nuance to them, so this was a pleasant surprise.
The package comes with several accessories revolving around Labrys' weapon. "Labrys" was the Greek word for a double-bitted axe, making her weapon her namesake as well (and there are historical examples of giant versions of such axes too). The axe head comes with a peg that lets you attach it to Labrys' back. Each blade is on a swivel, basically turning them into wings.
The effects pieces you see above come in two parts and clamp around the jets on the axe. I consulted the instruction sheet to see how they should be attached, but was misled a bit. Each flame piece needs to attach to a specific spot on the axe, but the order shown in the instruction sheet seems to be reversed. It took some fiddling but eventually I figured it out.
Here you can see the other accessories for the axe. You'll get a separate stand and base for it in case you want to pose it flying through the air. Unfortunately there's no way to hide that peg if the stand is attached. I guess it's not the end of the world, but it still sticks out.
Other accessories include a variety of alternate hands, as well as a chain that goes between the elbow joint and forearm. It's a single, flexible piece of plastic that gives a more dynamic look than a real chain would have.
Of course you'll get the shadow version of Labrys as well since it's just a face swap. I would have preferred a smirking expression over this blank one. There's also an expression for Aigis included in the package, which I found weird. Parfom Aigis already has a neutral default face, but you get another one with Labrys for some reason.
I thought this figure, with its chibi aesthetic and articulation, would turn out to be like a Cu-Poche. But since I don't have any Cu-Poches, I can't really say. Having played with Labrys for a while, I do think the Parfom line is pretty close to the figma line. The articulation is more extensive than in your typical figma, and the joints are higher quality (while being less conspicuous).
The fit and finish is good, though for these types of figures I don't expect perfection. Still, it held up pretty well during my photo shoot, with only one of the hair flaps falling off when I didn't expect it. Generally this is a well-designed figure with a surprising amount of articulation, but doesn't feel like it's going to break or lose its pose suddenly. The paint job's decent too, with some different finishes throughout the body and axe.
Phat Company's Parfom line is fairly new, with only three figures currently in the series, and this Labrys figure already feels refined and well thought out. I'd say my experience with it has won me over to the Parfom series. It's wonderful for anyone who wants the cute chibi look but with lots of creative possibilities that you may not get with a Nendoroid or scale figure. Hopefully, Phat Company ramps up the release schedule for these. Six more have been announced, but none of them have dates set for the moment.

Class president or killer robot?Persona 4 may very well be my favorite video game of all time. Given the number of spin-offs it has received, it seems a fair amount of people out there love it too. When I first heard about Persona 4 Arena, I thought it was ...

Nendoroid #600 hinted atLike a typical teenager Good Smile Company wants to do everything. No longer content with just making figures, GSC is growing into quite the powerhouse these days, having their hands in TV series and video games, and even bro...

Buy some figures for a good cause!In 2011 Good Smile Company launched Cheerful Japan, a fundraising effort created to aid those effected by the Great East Japan Earthquake through the sales of specially designed figures. In a way it's now unfortunate that Che...

ZORKOkay, what on earth happened to Tomopop? Why is it so desolate nowadays?2-DAfter one year of collecting minus a Castle Crasher figure and amiibos. Desperately trying to cut back but just seen a cheap Tifa figure on eBay.....Cornelius RoyIf you're an Avatar fans and noticed Chief Beifong figure on SDCC, the dream lives on.
http://zwyerind.com/ there's a banner labelled coming soon...Jeremy Emerje CrockerWeekly top sales are on an indefinite hiatus. My source, Toynes.jp, abruptly stopped making regular postings including rankings. I'll resume whenever they do. :(Niero GonzalezTesting Quickposts! You can now use Tomopop like Twitter